Playground apparatus comprising a camera support

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a playground apparatus that is configured to support a camera, typically a smartphone or similar photo/video device. The apparatus is configured to both (a) position the camera to take a photograph or video of the user during the play activity and (b) to maintain the camera in place during the play activity. Embodiments of the play apparatus include swings, whirls, and spinners.

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/713,197, filed on Aug. 1, 2018, the entirety of whichis incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to playground apparatuses thatare configured to support a camera, typically a smartphone that iscapable of taking photographs and/or videos. The playground apparatusprovides a holder in which the camera is positioned and angled so thatone can take a photograph (i.e. selfie) and/or a video of the userenjoying the play activity. By positioning a camera in or on variousplayground apparatuses, one may capture the reactions of the usersparticipating in a variety of play activities. In some embodiments, theplayground apparatus is a swing comprising a camera support at the frontof the swing seat, a whirl comprising one or more camera supports at ornear a central axis of the whirl, or a spinner comprising a camerasupport at the front of the spinner seat.

BACKGROUND

With the popularity of “selfies” and people posting videos of themselvesor their friends and family to social media, the use of digital camerasis ubiquitous. Parents often want to capture photos/video of theirchildren at play for posterity or to be able to share with friends andrelatives. When using playground equipment, however, it is not alwayseasy or practical to take photo/video due to poor angles, safetyconcerns, etc. The inventors have recognized that it would be desirableto have an integrated way to support a digital camera (e.g. asmartphone) in or on a playground apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to various playgrounddevices that have been configured to include a mount for a smartphone,wherein the smartphone mount is positioned and configured to point thecamera of a smartphone toward a user while the user is participating inthe play activity. Using the devices, one may take photographs or videosof a user enjoying a play activity in a hands-free manner. The devicesinclude swings, whirls (e.g. merry-go-rounds), bouncers, spinners,rocking apparatus, playground music equipment, monkey bars, see saws,track rides, zip tracks or lines, and slides.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are specifically directed toswings that include a mount for a smartphone that is positioned andconfigured to provide for photographing the swing seat occupant duringuse. In some embodiments, a digital camera (e.g. smartphone) may beplaced in a compartment integrated into a seat, such as a child's swingseat. The compartment may comprise an aperture that is sized and shapedfor holding a typical smartphone. The aperture may be configured to holdthe camera in the correct position and angle to photograph (or takevideo of) the swinging child in a hands-free manner. An icon on or nearthe compartment may indicate the function of the compartment (i.e. forinsertion of a phone).

In some embodiments, the child swing seat with the integrated smartphoneholder may be attached to an adult seat such that the two share aswinging motion.

In other embodiments, a swing seat may include a connector that attachesthe seat to a camera support element, which is located at a desireddistance and height for photographing the occupant of the seat.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are also specifically directed towhirls that include a mount for a smartphone that is positioned andconfigured to provide for photographing an occupant of at least one ofthe seats of the whirl during use. In some embodiments, a digital camera(e.g. smartphone) may be placed in a compartment integrated into eitherthe base of the whirl or a smartphone support element that is connectedto the base. The compartment may comprise an aperture that is sized andshaped for holding a typical smartphone. The aperture may be configuredto hold the camera in the correct position and angle to photograph (ortake video of) the occupant in a hands-free manner. An icon on or nearthe compartment may indicate the function of the compartment (i.e. forinsertion of a phone).

In some embodiments, the whirl may comprise a plurality of apertures,each of the plurality of apertures being sized and configured to hold asmartphone at a location and angle to photograph the face of an occupantof at least one of the whirl seats.

In some embodiments, the whirl may not include seats but rather one ormore handles which are configured for a child or children to hold duringoperation of the whirl. In those embodiments, the mount for a smartphonemay be positioned and configured to provide for photographing a userwhile the user holds at least one of the handles during operation of thewhirl.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are also specifically directed tospinners that include a mount for a smartphone that is positioned andconfigured to provide for photographing an occupant of the spinner seatduring use. In some embodiments, a digital camera (e.g. smartphone) maybe placed in a compartment integrated into the spinner seat, such as inthe front wall of the spinner seat. The compartment may comprise anaperture that is sized and shaped for holding a typical smartphone. Theaperture may be configured to hold the camera in the correct positionand angle to photograph (or take video of) the spinning child in ahands-free manner.

In other embodiments, the spinner seat may comprise a projection thatcontains the smartphone mount.

In some embodiments, the spinner seat may be sized and configured tohold, at the same time, both an adult and a child. In these embodiments,the aperture may be configured to hold the camera in the correctposition and angle to photograph (or take video of) both the adult andchild occupant of the spinner seat during use.

In some embodiments, the spinner may be configured to provide anoccupant or occupants of the spinner seat with a multi-axis movement,such as both a spinning and a rotating movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are provided to help illustrate and describe certainfeatures of the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure. However, theclaims and disclosure are not limited to the precise arrangements andinstrumentalities of the features depicted in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a child swing seathaving a compartment configured to position a phone to take a photographof the seat occupant during the swinging motion.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a portion of the swing seat shown inFIG. 1, showing details of the compartment and an example of a visualindicator that the compartment is for holding a smartphone to take aphotograph.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of a portion of the swing seat shown in FIG.1, showing an example configuration for the compartment.

FIG. 4 is a front, right side perspective view of an embodiment of aswing having first and second seats, in which the first seat comprises acompartment configured to position a phone so as to take a photograph ofthe seat occupant during the swinging motion.

FIG. 5 is a front, left side perspective view of the swing shown in FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the swing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the swing shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a whirl having aplurality of phone holders, each of which is configured to position aphone so as to take a photograph of a seat occupant during operation ofthe whirl.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a whirl having aplurality of phone holders, each of which is configured to position aphone so as to take a photograph of a seat occupant during operation ofthe whirl.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the whirl shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a phone supportelement attached to the base of a whirl.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the phone support element shown in FIG.11.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the phone supportelement shown in FIG. 12, taken along line AA.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a phone supportelement configured to be attached to the base of a whirl.

FIG. 15 is a front elevation view of the phone support element shown inFIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the phone support element shown inFIG. 15, taken along line CC.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the whirl shown inFIG. 9, showing a configuration of the phone holder such that an averagesmartphone camera will capture the face of a 50th percentiletwelve-year-old child occupant.

FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a spinnerhaving a phone holder configured to position a phone so as to take aphotograph of a seat occupant during operation of the spinner.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the spinner shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of the spinner shown in FIG. 18, showing anadult and a child simultaneously sitting in the spinner seat.

FIG. 21 is a side elevation view of the spinner shown in FIG. 18,showing an adult and a child simultaneously sitting in the spinner seat.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the spinner seat shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 23 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of a phone holdersuch as that present on the spinner shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the spinner seat shown in FIG. 18,showing a configuration of the phone holder such that an averagesmartphone camera will capture the face of a 50th percentiletwelve-year-old child occupant.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a mounting assembly for a spinner,the mounting assembly being configured to provide a spinner seat withboth a spinning movement and a rotating movement.

FIG. 26 is a bottom plan view of a spinner seat, such as that shown inFIG. 18, having a mounting plate that provides additional strength tobetter withstand the rotating movement.

FIG. 27 is a lower perspective view of the spinner seat shown in FIG.26.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a spinner havinga phone holder configured to position a phone so as to take a photographof a seat occupant during operation of the spinner.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a spinner havinga phone holder configured to position a phone so as to take a photographof a seat occupant during operation of the spinner.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a spinner havinga phone holder configured to position a phone so as to take a photographof a seat occupant during operation of the spinner

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before continuing to describe various aspects and embodiments in furtherdetail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited tospecific compositions or process steps and may vary. As used in thisspecification and the appended claims, the singular form “a”, “an” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which this invention is related.

The inventors have advantageously discovered it is desirable to have anintegrated way to support a digital camera (e.g. a smartphone) in or ona variety of playground apparatuses. This allows for capturing images ofa user at preferable angles and in a hands-free manner during play.

The inventors have further discovered that it is desirable to have thecamera support on the playground apparatus integrated in a manner so asnot to need a separate photographer (or videographer). In this manner,the image capture can be focused on the user of the apparatus while theyare playing and operated in a hands-free manner.

Various types of playground equipment can be configured to support acamera in order to capture images of the user during use. Types ofplayground equipment include, but are not limited to, swings (includingADA swings), whirls (e.g. merry-go-rounds), bouncers, spinners, rockingapparatus (including inclusive types), playground music equipment,monkey bars, see saws, track rides, zip tracks or lines, and slides.

Swings

In one set of embodiments, the playground apparatus is a swing.

Embodiments of the present disclosure, including the embodiments shownin FIGS. 1 through 3, are directed to a swing seat 100 comprising acompartment 10, or aperture, that is sized and configured to hold asmartphone in place during the swinging motion. The compartment 10 isconfigured so that a user may place his/her phone into the aperture 10and leave it there during the duration of a swinging activity. Theaperture 10 is also positioned and configured to hold the smartphone ata location and angle to photograph at least the face of an occupant ofthe swing seat 100. Using a timer and/or a remote activator, a user maytake a picture of the seat occupant enjoying the swinging activity.Alternatively, a user may take video of the seat occupant enjoying theswinging activity.

In some embodiments, the phone holding aperture 10 may be built directlyinto a swing seat 100. For instance, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.1 through 3 shows a child safety seat—e.g., a bucket seat—that isconfigured to include a phone-holding compartment 10, or aperture, at asubstantially flat upper, front surface 101. In other, non-illustratedembodiments, the phone holding compartment 10 may be part of a separatesupport element connected to the swing seat 100.

In some embodiments, such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, theswing seat 100 may be a child safety seat, e.g. a bucket seat,configured to safely seat an infant and/or toddler for swinging. Theswing seat 100 may comprise at least a bottom surface 102, a backsupport 103, and a front support 104 defining a pair of leg holes 105.An example of such a swing seat 100 is shown in FIG. 1. The frontsupport 104 may comprise a substantially flat upper surface 101 abovethe leg holes 105. The phone-holding compartment 10 may be located onthis surface 101. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, thephone-holding compartment 10 may be an aperture, or hollowed-out portionof the front support 104. The phone-holding compartment 10 may bedefined by a front (distal) wall 11, a rear (proximal) wall 12, a firstside wall 13, a second side wall 14, and a bottom surface 15 (though insome embodiments, the walls may converge to a point at the bottom). Itis accessible through the open top, into which a user may place a phoneso that the phone sits at least partially inside the compartment 10.

Desirably, the compartment/aperture 10 is at least 2 inches deep inorder to ensure that the phone is not caused to fall out of the swing bythe swinging motion, alternatively at least 2.5 inches deep,alternatively at least 3 inches deep, alternatively at least 3.25 inchesdeep, alternatively at least 3.5 inches deep. In some embodiments, forinstance, the compartment/aperture 10 may be between 2.5 inches and 4.5inches deep, alternatively between 3 and 4 inches deep. In otherembodiments, such as where the swing is expected to have a longer swingpath (as is common for older children), the phone-holdingcompartment/aperture 10 may need to be deeper and/or include one or moreadditional phone securing elements. In some embodiments, thecompartment/aperture 10 may be sized and configured so that the phonecan be inserted and secured either vertically (for portrait-stylephotographs) or horizontally (for landscape-style photographs).

The compartment/aperture 10 is also desirably configured to position thephone at a slight upward angle, so that the camera will be directed atthe seat occupant's face. For instance, the front, or distal, wall 11 ofthe compartment 10 may be angled so that the rear surface of the phonerests on the wall and the screen is angled slightly upward toward theseat occupant's face. This allows one to use the conventional “selfie”camera mode to take a picture of the seat occupant during the swingingactivity. In some embodiment, the front wall 11 of the compartment 10may be angled at least 5 degrees from vertical, alternatively at least10 degrees from vertical, alternatively at least 15 degrees fromvertical. For instance, in some embodiments, the front wall 11 of thecompartment 10 may be angled between about 5 degrees and about 60degrees relative to vertical, alternatively between about 10 degrees andabout 45 degrees, alternatively between about 10 degrees and about 30degrees, alternatively between about 15 degrees and about 25 degrees.The angling of the phone within the compartment 10 may be achieved inother manners as well, such as by the compartment having an angledbottom surface 15 and/or an angled rear wall 12.

Angling of the front wall 11, rear wall 12 and/or the bottom surface 15may also provide additional benefits. Angling of the front wall 11provides a surface on which the back of a smartphone may rest, helpingto stabilize the phone within the compartment. Angling of the rear wall12 away from the phone (toward the top of the compartment 10) may helpprevent interference of the rear wall in any resulting photograph orvideo. Angling of the bottom surface 15 may help with drainage of thecompartment 10, which prevents water from pooling in the compartment andpotentially damaging an inserted smartphone. Each of these effects canbe seen, for instance, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

In some embodiments, the compartment 10 may include one or more drainageholes 16. The drainage hole(s) 16 allows for water, e.g. from rain andthe like, to exit the compartment 10. The drainage hole(s) 16 may belocated in the bottom surface 15 of the compartment 10. In someembodiments, such as that shown in FIG. 3, the drainage hole(s) 16 maybe located at one end of the bottom surface 15 and the bottom surfacemay be angled downward toward the end containing the drainage hole(s)16. For example, the bottom surface 15 may be angled downward toward thefront wall 11 and the drainage hole(s) may be located where the frontwall 11 and the bottom surface 15 meet. In other embodiments, aplurality of drainage holes 16 may be located at various locationsacross the bottom surface 15.

The drainage hole(s) 16 preferably direct water that enters thecompartment 10 away from an occupant of the swing seat 100. Forinstance, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the drainage hole 16 drainsthrough the front support surface 104 (as visible for example in FIG.7). In other, non-illustrated, embodiments, the drainage hole(s) 16 maydirect the water from the compartment 10 onto the bottom surface 102 ofthe seat 100 itself, after which the water may flow out of one or moreseat drainage openings.

In some embodiments, the compartment 10 may include one or more phonesecuring elements. For instance, the compartment 10 may comprise one ormore flexible tabs that are deformed or deflected when a phone is placedinto the aperture. The tabs may press against the phone to provideadditional securement of the phone in the aperture. As another example,the aperture may have a dimension, e.g. width between the front 11 andrear 12 walls, that narrows toward the bottom. In this way, a user maypress a phone into the aperture to obtain a secure friction fit. Or, forexample, one or more of the walls of the compartment 10 (e.g. the frontwall 11) may be made out of a material that prevents slippage of thephone or may contain a friction-enhancing coating.

In some embodiments, the swing seat 100 may comprise one or more visualindicators 17 that indicate to a user that the compartment 10 is meantto hold a smartphone at a position for the taking of photographs and/orvideo of the seat occupant. An example of such an indicator 17 is shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. In some embodiments, including the illustratedembodiment, the visual indicator 17 may be positioned on the surfaceadjacent to the compartment 10, such as on substantially flat uppersurface 101. In other embodiments, the visual indicator 17 may be placedon a wall of the compartment, such as on front wall 11. The visualindicator 17 may desirably be integral with, e.g. molded or stampedinto, the material that makes up the compartment walls or thesurrounding structure, such as is shown in the illustrated embodiment.However, the application of a visual indicator 17 using a sticker,adhesive, or the like is also contemplated. The visual indicator 17 mayalso have any design, so long as the design provides a user with someindication of the intended use of the compartment 10.

In some embodiments, the swing seat 100 may be configured to seat anolder child and/or an adult. For instance, the seating surface of theswing seat 100 may be a board seat, belt seat, chair seat, bench seat,or the like. The swing seat 100 may include a phone support element thatis connected to the seating surface so as to have a common swingingmotion. Desirably, the phone support element is positioned to provide agood angle for a photograph of the seat occupant without interferingwith either the accessibility of the seating surface or the swingingactivity itself. For instance, the phone support element may desirablybe located in front of the seating surface, either centrally or offsetto one side, in order to easily and comfortably obtain qualityphotographs of the seat occupant. In other embodiments, however, thephone support element may be located to the side of the seating surfaceinstead of in front of the seating surface (requiring a user to looksideways for a face-on photo).

The phone support element may be connected to the seating surface in avariety of different manners, keeping in mind the need to maintain easyaccess into and out of the seat. In some embodiments, the swing seat 100may comprise a connector that extends underneath the seating surface,such that a user can step over the connector when entering the seat. Forinstance, the connector may extend forward from the bottom of theseating surface to a desired distance in front of the seat and thenupward to position the phone support element at a desirablephotograph-taking height. In other embodiments, the swing seat 100 maycomprise a connector that extends forward along one side of the swingseat, such that a user can enter the seat through the opposite side. Forexample, the connector may extend from an armrest or a backrest of theseat. In yet other embodiments, the swing seat may comprise a connectorthat extends over the top of a seat occupant.

As one example, instead of seat 200 being connected to seat 100 byconnector 201, such as is shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, a similarconnector element may link seat 200 to a phone support element which maybe positioned and configured to take photographs and/or video of theoccupant of seat 200.

In some embodiments, the swing seat 100 may have a plurality ofphone-holding compartments 10 and/or phone support elements. Forinstance, a swing seat 100 may have phone-holding compartments 10 and/orphone support elements at varying heights and/or distances to providephotographs from different perspectives.

The swing seat 100 shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 may be suspended from asupport structure to provide an independent child swing. Swing seat 100may be suspended in any conventional manner as would be understood bypersons of skill in the art. For instance, the swing seat 100 maycomprise suspension points, such as at each side of the seat, to whichone or more chains may be attached and used to suspend the seat from asupport structure. In some embodiments, those suspension points may beprovided by a U-shaped framework 106 that extends below the lowersupport surface 102 and up around the sides of the child safety seat100. An example of such a U-shaped framework 106 is shown in FIGS. 4through 7 (although the U-shaped framework shown in those figures isattached to a connector element 201 that links seat 100 with a secondswing seat 200). The U-shaped framework 106 may be affixed to the childsafety seat 100 in any conventional manner, as would be understood bythose of skill in the art. The U-shaped framework 106 may comprisesuspension points 107, such as at each end of the framework, to whichone or more chains may be attached and used to suspend the swing seat100 from a support structure.

In some embodiments, instead of operating as an independent child swing,the swing seat 100 may be connected to a second swing seat 200 such thatthe two swing seats share a common swinging motion. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, for instance, the swing may comprise afirst seat 100 and a second seat 200 that are connected together toshare a swinging motion. In the illustrated embodiment, seat 100 is achild safety seat comprising a phone holder 10 that is integrated intothe seat itself, as described above and seat 200 is an adult seat.

The type, shape, and style of the seats 100, 200 may also vary from thatshown in the illustrated embodiment. For instance, in some embodiments,both seats 100, 200 may be configured for older children and adults andmay include board seats, belt seats, chair seats, bench seats, or thelike. Or both seats may be configured for infants and/or toddlers andmay include child safety seats such as bucket seats. In someembodiments, for instance, both the first seat 100 and the second seat200 may be child safety seats such as that shown in FIGS. 1-3. Further,although the first seat 100 and the second seat 200 are shown as beingvertically displaced from one another in FIGS. 4-7, the first seat 100and the second seat 200 may be positioned at the same or substantiallythe same vertical height, particularly where the first seat 100 and thesecond seat 200 are each a child safety seat such as that shown in FIGS.1-3.

First seat 100 and second seat 200 may be connected to one another by aconnector 201. The connector may take on any of a variety ofconfigurations, so long as it connects the first and second seats in ahorizontally spaced apart manner. In the illustrated embodiment, forexample, the connector 201 comprises a piped framework that extendsbetween the seats along a first side of the first and second swingseats. In other embodiments, however, the connector 201 may comprise apiped framework that extends between the seats below the first andsecond seats 100, 200. In yet other embodiments, the connector 201 neednot be a piped framework at all. Instead, the connector 201 may be amolded plastic structure. For instance, the first and second seats 100,200 may made of plastic and be integrally formed with a plasticconnector 201. As with the piped framework connector 201, the plasticconnector may be positioned to one side of the first and second seats100, 200, below the first and second seats, or a combination thereof.The plastic connector 201 also may or may not be reinforced, such aswith a piped framework portion.

The connector 201 may also be attached to the first and second seats100, 200 in any known manner. In the illustrated embodiment, forexample, the connector 201 may be affixed to, or integral with, U-shapedframework 106 which supports first seat 100. Further, the connector 201may be affixed to, or integral with, a U-shaped framework 203 whichsupports second seat 200. As illustrated, the U-shaped framework 106supporting the first seat 100 and the U-shaped framework 203 supportingsecond seat 200 each includes one or more suspension points 107, 204.The connector 201 may also include one or more suspension points 205. Inother embodiments, such as where the connector 201 is a plasticconnector and/or where the connector extends below the first and secondseats 100, 200, the suspension points may be located on each of thefirst and second seats.

In some embodiments, the first seat 100 and the second seat 200 may bevertically displaced, such that the first seat is positioned higher thanthe second seat. For instance, the first seat 100 and second seat 200may be arranged such that an adult and a child face one another andshare a common eye level. Taking into account the height differential ofthe adult and the child, the second seat 200 may be vertically disposeda distance below the first seat 100. Preferably, the vertical distancebetween the first seat 100 and the second seat 200 is between about sixinches and sixteen inches, alternatively between about eight and aboutfourteen inches, alternatively between about nine and about thirteeninches, alternatively between about ten and about twelve inches. Giventhe average height of an adult and child, the ranges of verticaldisplacement will provide a common eye level for most caretakers andchildren. In other embodiments, the first and second seats 100, 200 maybe positioned at the same height or substantially the same height.

In some embodiments, the swing comprising a first seat 100 and a secondseat 200 may comprise multiple phone holders 10, such that a first canbe used to photograph the occupant of the first seat and a second can beused to photograph the occupant of the second seat. Alternatively, theswing may include a single phone holder 10 than can be used in differentways in order to photograph either the occupant of the first seat 100 orthe occupant of the second seat 200. For instance, one wall or surfaceof the compartment 10 (e.g. front wall 11) may be angled to support thephone in an orientation to photograph the occupant of the first seat 100and another wall or surface of the compartment (e.g. rear wall 12) maybe angled to support the phone in an orientation to photograph theoccupant of the second seat 200. In other embodiments, a phone holdermay only operate to photograph the occupant of one of the first andsecond seats 100, 200.

Whirls

In another set of embodiments, the playground apparatus is a whirl, alsosometimes referred to as a Merry Go Round.

Embodiments of the present disclosure, including the embodiments shownin FIGS. 8 through 17, are directed to a whirl 300 comprising one ormore compartments 10, each of which is sized and configured to hold asmartphone in place during spinning motion of the whirl. Eachcompartment 10 is configured so that a user may place his/her phone intothe compartment 10 and leave it there during the duration of a spinningactivity. The compartment 10 is also positioned and configured to holdthe smartphone at a location and angle to photograph at least the faceof an occupant of the whirl 300. Using a timer and/or a remoteactivator, a user may take a picture of the occupant enjoying thespinning activity. Alternatively, a user may take video of the occupantenjoying the spinning activity.

The whirl 300 may take on any of a variety of configurations. Ingeneral, a whirl 300 is a playground component having a base 301 that isconfigured to spin about a central mount. The base 301 is typicallylarge enough to hold multiple children, each of whom sits or stands onthe base, depending on whether or not the base comprises one or moreseats, one or more handles, or a combination thereof. In the illustratedembodiments, for example, the base 301 comprises a plurality of seats302. In other (non-illustrated) embodiments, however, the whirl 300 maynot contain seats. For example, in some embodiments, the whirl 300 mayinstead include one or more handles that may be grasped by a user andheld onto during the spinning motion. In yet other embodiments, a whirl300 may comprise a combination of one or more seats and one or morehandles. The seats 302 and/or handles may be integral with the base 302,such as shown in the illustrated embodiment, or may be separatecomponents that are affixed to the base.

Some whirls 300 may also have one or more flat or substantially flatsurfaces on which a child in a wheelchair may enjoy the whirl. In someembodiments, the mount for these “inclusive play” whirls may also besunk into the ground so that the upper surface of the base 301 issubstantially level with a play surface instead of elevated above theplay surface as is the case with a typical whirl. In these embodiments,one or more phone-holder compartment 10 may be oriented so that a userof a wheelchair positioned on that surface may be the subject of aphotograph and/or video.

A first embodiment of a whirl 300 is shown in FIG. 8. For the embodimentshown in FIG. 8, one or more children may spin the whirl 300 by holdingonto any portion of the base 301 and running in a circular motion. Oncethe whirl is spinning, the one or more children may jump onto the base301 and maneuver into the plurality of seats 302. Alternatively, bypushing any portion of the base 301, a caretaker (or a child that doesnot him/herself get onto the base 301) may initiate spinning of thewhirl 300 and/or maintain a spinning motion for other children, each ofwhom may remain in one of the seats 302.

A second embodiment of a whirl 300 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Theembodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 differs from the embodiment shown inFIG. 8 in that it further comprises a central handle 303 by which one ormore children may initiate spinning of the whirl 300 and/or maintain aspinning motion without having to step off of the base 301. To do so,one or more children occupants of the plurality of seats 302 may simplypush off from the central handle 303. The central handle 303 extendsfrom a central shaft 304 that is fixedly attached to a support post 305.Whirls 300 of this sort are sometimes referred to as tea cup whirls oras spinning tea cups (based off of their being operated similarly to thepopular amusement park ride).

The whirl 300 may be rotatably mounted to a support structure by anyconventional manner, as would be understood by persons of skill in theart. The support structure is generally concealed below the base 301,which extends outward beyond the support structure.

In some embodiments, the one or more phone holding compartments 10 maybe built directly into the base 301 of the whirl 300. For example, acompartment 10 may be integral with the base 301. In such an embodiment,the base 301 would typically include an upward protruding feature thatwould contain the compartment 10, although the compartment could also beincorporated into the floor of the base. In other embodiments, includingthe illustrated embodiments, the one or more phone holding compartments10 may be part of a separate support element 320 that is connected tothe base 301 of the whirl 300. Support element 320 may be configured sothat it can be installed onto existing whirl 300 as well as included aspart of a new whirl. Support element 320 desirably extends above thebase 301, thereby elevating the one or more compartments 10 above thefloor of the base 301. Support element 320 may be a one-piece unit ormay be made up of multiple pieces.

In yet other embodiments, the handle 303 or the central shaft 304 maycomprise one or more phone-holding compartments 10, such that a usercould take a video of a plurality of children spinning around a fixedcamera.

The one or more phone-holding compartments 10 are desirably located ator near the center of the base 301.

For instance, support element 320 may be positioned so as to surround acentral axis of the whirl 300. In some embodiments, such as that shownin FIGS. 9-10, the support element 320 may be configured to surround atleast a portion of central shaft 304. This may provide the additionalbenefit of concealing and restricting access to the one or morefasteners 306, e.g. bolts, that secure central shaft 304 to support post305. This protects fasteners 306 from environmental degradation andprevents tampering with those fasteners, loosening of those fasteners,and the like. Support element 320 may therefore comprise a centralaperture 310 through which a portion of the central shaft 304 mayextend. When affixed to a whirl 300 that does not utilize a centralhandle 303, such as the whirl shown in FIG. 8, central shaft 304 may beclosed off by a cap.

In other embodiments, support element 320 need not surround the centralaxis of the whirl 300 but may instead be located on one side of thecentral axis. For instance, support element 320 may only contain asingle phone-holder compartment 10 and may thus only comprise one thirdof the structure shown in the illustrated embodiments. Or supportelement 320 may contain only two phone-holder compartments 10. In someembodiments, whirl 300 may comprise multiple support elements 320, eachof which may contain one or more phone-holder compartments 10. Themultiple support elements 320 may be located at positions around thecentral axis so as orient each of the phone-holder compartments 10toward one or more seats 302 or handles.

Support element 320 may be secured to the base 301 using one or morefasteners 307, e.g. bolts. In some embodiments, the support element 302and/or the one or more phone-holding compartments 10 present on thesupport element may be configured to restrict access to fasteners 307.For example, support element 320 may comprise one or more through-holes308 configured to receive the one or more fasteners 307 and at least oneof the through-holes, and desirably each of a plurality ofthrough-holes, may be positioned such that access to the fastener isrestricted. For example, the through-hole 308 may be positioned within arecess 309 that is difficult to access by hand. In some embodiments,including for example the illustrated embodiments, the recess 309 mayextend inward from the phone support wall 11.

The recess 309 may comprise a flat or substantially flat bottom surfaceor, as in the illustrated embodiments, the recess 309 may comprise anangled surface that provides for drainage of water (e.g. rain) away fromthe fastener 307. When the recess 309 extends inward from the phonesupport wall 11, the angled surface of the recess may operate inassociation with the one or more drainage holes 16 of the phone-holdingcompartment 10 (e.g. water may flow down the angled surface and then outof the one or more drainage holes).

The phone-holding compartment 10 may comprise at least a phone supportsurface, or wall, 11 and a bottom surface, or ledge 15. At least thephone support surface 11 is desirably angled so that a smartphone placedin the compartment 10 is angled toward the face of an occupant of thewhirl 300. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, phone supportsurface 11 is angled upward.

The particular angle of the phone support surface 11 will depend on theelevation of the compartment 10 above the base 301. Where thecompartment 10 is positioned a small distance above the base 301, forexample, the phone support wall 11 may be angled between about 5 degreesand about 60 degrees from vertical, alternatively between about 10degrees and about 60 degrees from vertical, alternatively between about15 degrees and about 50 degrees from vertical, alternatively betweenabout 15 degrees and about 45 degrees from vertical, alternativelybetween about 20 degrees and about 45 degrees from vertical,alternatively between about 25 and about 40 degrees from vertical,alternatively between about 30 and about 40 degrees from vertical.

The bottom ledge 15 may also be angled upward away from the phonesupport surface 11 so as to prevent a phone from sliding out of thephone-holding compartment 10. In some embodiments, for example, thebottom ledge 15 may be angled between about 5 degrees and about 60degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 5 degrees and about50 degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 10 degrees andabout 50 degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 15 degreesand about 45 degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 20degrees and about 45 degrees from horizontal, alternatively betweenabout 25 and about 40 degrees from horizontal, alternatively betweenabout 30 and about 40 degrees from horizontal. As illustrated, thebottom ledge 15 may form a right angle with the phone support surface11.

The bottom ledge 15 may also have a depth that is configured to preventa phone from falling out of the phone-holding compartment 10 during useof the whirl 300. For instance, the bottom ledge may be at least ½ inchdeep, more desirably at least 1 inch deep.

The phone-holding compartment 10 may also comprise one or more drainagetracks 16. The drainage track(s) 16 allows for water, e.g. from rain andthe like, to exit the compartment 10. The drainage track(s) 16 may belocated in the bottom surface 15 of the compartment 10. In someembodiments, such as that shown in the illustrated embodiments, adrainage track 16 may be located at or near the center of the bottomsurface 15 and each side of the bottom surface may be angled downwardtoward the central point containing the drainage track. In otherembodiments, a plurality of drainage tracks 16 may be located at variouslocations across the bottom surface 15, such as at each corner of thecompartment 10 for example.

As shown in the illustrated embodiments, each of the one or moredrainage track(s) 16 may be angled downward to allow for water to runout of the phone-holding compartment and onto the base 301 of the whirl.For instance, the embodiment of a phone-holding compartment 10 shown inFIG. 13 is illustrated as having a drainage track that is angleddownward at an angle of 5 degrees.

The bottom surface 15 may be divided into a plurality of sections by theone or more drainage tracks 16. As shown in FIG. 14, for instance, thebottom ledge 15 may be split to left and right sections by a centraldrainage divot 16. Regardless of the drainage divot 16, however, thebottom ledge 15 is configured so that the bottom edge of a phone restson and is supported by the ledge.

In other embodiments, the phone-holding compartment 10 may comprise oneor more drainage through-holes (as opposed to tracks), such that waterflows down through the support element 320 and/or base 301 and ends upunderneath the whirl 300.

In some embodiments, the compartment 10 may include one or more phonesecuring elements. For instance, the compartment 10 may comprise one ormore flexible tabs that are deformed or deflected when a phone is placedinto the compartment. The tabs may press against the phone to provideadditional securement of the phone in the compartment. As anotherexample, the compartment may have a dimension that provides for afriction fit with an inserted phone. Or, for example, the phone supportwall 11 may be made out of a material that prevents slippage of thephone or may contain a friction-enhancing coating.

The whirl 300 may also comprise a visual indicator 17 that indicate to auser that the one or more compartments 10 are for holding a smartphoneto take a photograph and/or video of an occupant of the whirl. Anexample of such an indicator 17 is shown in FIG. 11. The visualindicator 17 may be located anywhere on the whirl, including for exampleon the base 301 or on support element 320. In the illustratedembodiments, visual indicator 17 is located on the phone support wall 11of each compartment 10. However, the visual indicator 17 could just aseasily be located elsewhere on the support element 320, such as adjacentto each compartment 10. The visual indicator 17 may desirably beintegral with, e.g. molded or stamped into, the material that makes upthe support element 320, such as is shown in the illustrated embodiment.However, the application of a visual indicator 17 using a sticker,adhesive, or the like is also contemplated. The visual indicator 17 mayalso have any design, so long as the design provides a user with someindication of the intended use of the compartment 10.

In some embodiments, the phone-holder compartment 10 may be positionedat a height and angle such that an average smartphone camera, which hasa 65 degree field of view, is able to capture the face of children of acertain age group. As shown in FIG. 17, the compartment may beconfigured so that an average smartphone camera having a 65 degree fieldof view is positioned to capture the face of a 50th percentile in heighttwelve-year-old child user.

Spinners

In another set of embodiments, the playground apparatus is a spinner.

Embodiments of the present disclosure, including the embodiments shownin FIGS. 18 through 30, are directed to a spinner 400 comprising acompartment 10 that is sized and configured to hold a smartphone inplace during the motion of the spinner. Each compartment 10 isconfigured so that a user may place his/her phone into the compartment10 and leave it there during the duration of a spinning activity. Thecompartment 10 is also positioned and configured to hold the smartphoneat a location and angle to photograph at least the face of an occupantof the spinner 400. Using a timer and/or a remote activator, a user maytake a picture of the occupant enjoying the spinning activity.Alternatively, a user may take video of the occupant enjoying thespinning activity.

The spinner 400 may take on any of a variety of configurations. Ingeneral, a spinner 400 is a playground component having a seat 401 thatis configured to spin 360 degrees about a central mount. In contrast toa whirl, which has a relatively large base that supports a plurality ofoccupants, a spinner 400 typically comprises only a single seat 401. Inconventional spinners 400, the seat 401 is sized and configured to holdonly one child occupant at any given time. In embodiments of the presentdisclosure, however, the seat 401 may be sized and configured to holdmultiple occupants, for instance one adult caretaker and one child, at agiven time.

A spinner seat 401 may take on any of a variety of configurations. Forexample, some spinner seats 401 may be bowl or cup seats, in which anoccupant sits in the interior of a bowl/cup, typically with his/her legsextending out of the bowl/cup. Other spinner seats 401 may be shapedmore in the shape of a chair, with a lower seating surface and anupward-extending back support (and sometimes with handles on each side).Yet other spinner seats 401 may be saddle seats, in one or more of thefront, rear, left side, and right side of the seating surface (which maybe substantially flat or sunken) extend upward to provide a user with asurface to grab and hold.

In yet other embodiments, in place of a seat 401, the spinner 400 maycomprise one or more handles extending upward from a small base on whichone or more children may stand.

A first embodiment of a spinner 400 is shown in FIGS. 18 through 24. Asillustrated, the spinner 400 comprises a seat 401 that forms a largebowl. More generally, the seat 401 comprises a lower support surface 402that is configured to support an occupant in a sitting position, anupper frame 403 through which the occupant enters and exits the seat,and one or more walls extending between the lower support surface andthe upper frame. Where the seat 401 forms a large bowl, as illustrated,a single wall 404 extends between the lower support surface and theupper frame 403 around the entirety of the seat.

The seat 401 may be a single integral structure. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 18 through 24, for instance, the lower supportsurface 402 is be integrally molded with wall 404 and upper frame 403.In other embodiments, however, the seat 401 may be made up of multiplecomponents, which may be affixed together by conventional means.

The phone-holding compartment 10 may be located in any one of the one ormore walls 404 and/or in the upper frame 403. As in the illustratedembodiment, for instance, where the seat 401 comprises a single wall 404extending around the entirety of the seat, the phone-holding compartment10 may be located in that wall 404.

In some embodiments, the upper frame 403 may be curved or angled, suchthat the seat 401 has a defined front and rear, in which the upper frameat the rear 405 is vertically higher than the upper frame at the front406 (i.e. wall 404 extends higher upward at the rear of the seat than atthe front of the seat). This may provide an occupant with a greaterdegree of back support than a conventional cup/bowl seat. This may be ofparticular importance in those embodiments in which the seat 401 isconfigured to hold multiple occupants, e.g. a caretaker and a child, atthe same time. It may also help ensure that the occupant is sitting in aposition that will locate his or her face at a desirable location for aphone in the phone-holding compartment 10 to photograph or video theoccupant's face.

In embodiments where the bowl seat 401 is provided with a front and arear, the phone-holding compartment 10 is desirably located at the frontof the seat, e.g. in the wall 404 at the front of the seat. By providingthe seat 401 with a defined front and rear and positioning thephone-holding compartment 10 at the front of the seat, e.g. in the upperframe 403 and/or the wall 404 at the front of the seat, it is morelikely that a user will see the phone-holder compartment during use andbe able to identify it as such.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the seat 401 may be sized andconfigured to simultaneously hold an adult and a child. An example ofsuch a seat 401 is shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. As evident from theillustrated seat, the distance between the front and the rear of theseat is increased relative to a conventional cup/bowl seat. Inembodiments of the seat 401, for instance, the distance between thefront (as measured from the upper frame at the front 406 of the seat)and the rear (as measured from the upper frame at the rear 405 of theseat) is at least 25 inches, alternatively at least 30 inches.Similarly, the distance between the right side of the seat and the leftside of the seat (as measured between the upper frame 403 at the rightand the upper frame at the left is at least 22 inches, alternatively atleast 25 inches.

The seat 401 may be rotatably mounted to a support structure so as toprovide the seat with the ability to spin 360 degrees by anyconventional manner, as would be understood by persons of skill in theart. In other embodiments, however, the support structure may beconfigured to provide the seat 401 with multi-axis movement, such asthrough the rotation of a portion of the mounting assembly in additionto the spinning of the seat, as is described herein.

The phone-holding compartment 10 may comprise at least a phone supportsurface, or wall, 11 and a bottom surface, or ledge 15. At least thephone support surface 11 is desirably angled so that a smartphone placedin the compartment 10 is angled toward the face of an occupant of theseat 401. In the illustrated embodiments, for example, phone supportsurface 11 is angled upward.

The particular angle of the phone support surface 11 will depend on theelevation of the compartment 10 above the lower support surface 402 ofthe seat. Where the compartment 10 is positioned toward the top of wall404, for example, the phone support wall 11 may be angled between about10 degrees and about 70 degrees from vertical, alternatively betweenabout 15 degrees and about 65 degrees from vertical, alternativelybetween about 20 degrees and about 60 degrees from vertical,alternatively between about 25 degrees and about 55 degrees fromvertical, alternatively between about 30 degrees and about 50 degreesfrom vertical, alternatively between about 35 and about 45 degrees fromvertical, alternatively about 40 degrees from vertical.

The bottom ledge 15 may also be angled upward away from the phonesupport surface 11 so as to prevent a phone from sliding out of thephone-holding compartment 10. In some embodiments, for example, thebottom ledge 15 may be angled between about 10 degrees and about 70degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 15 degrees andabout 65 degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 20 degreesand about 60 degrees from horizontal, alternatively between about 25degrees and about 55 degrees from horizontal, alternatively betweenabout 30 degrees and about 50 degrees from horizontal, alternativelybetween about 35 and about 45 degrees from horizontal, alternativelyabout 40 degrees from horizontal. As illustrated, the bottom ledge 15may form a right angle with the phone support surface 11.

The bottom ledge 15 may also have a depth that is configured to preventa phone from falling out of the phone-holding compartment 10 during useof the spinner 400. For instance, the bottom ledge may be at least ½inch deep, more desirably at least 1 inch deep.

The phone-holding compartment 10 may also comprise one or more drainagetracks 16. The drainage track(s) 16 allows for water, e.g. from rain andthe like, to exit the compartment 10. The drainage track(s) 16 may belocated in the bottom surface 15 of the compartment 10. In someembodiments, such as that shown in the illustrated embodiments, adrainage track 16 may be located at or near the center of the bottomsurface 15 and each side of the bottom surface may be angled downwardtoward the central point containing the drainage track. In otherembodiments, a plurality of drainage tracks 16 may be located at variouslocations across the bottom surface 15, such as at each corner of thecompartment 10 for example.

The bottom surface 15 may be divided into a plurality of sections by theone or more drainage tracks 16. As shown in FIG. 23, for instance, thebottom ledge 15 may be split to left and right sections by a centraldrainage track 16. Regardless of the drainage track 16, however, thebottom ledge 15 is configured so that the bottom edge of a phone restson and is supported by the ledge.

As shown in the illustrated embodiments, each of the one or moredrainage track(s) 16 may be angled downward to allow for water to runout of the phone-holding compartment and into the seat 401. The seat 401may, itself, contain one or more drainage holes 407 out of which watermay flow. For instance, the lower support surface 402 of the seat mayhave one or more drainage holes 407 through which water may flow out ofthe seat 401. Accordingly, water that flows out of the phone-holdingcompartment 10 through the one or more drainage track(s) 16 will flowinto the bottom of seat 401 and subsequently through the one or moredrainage holes 407 to the exterior of the seat. In other embodiments,the phone-holding compartment 10 may comprise one or more drainagethrough-holes (as opposed to tracks), such that water flows directlyfrom the compartment to the exterior of the seat 401.

In some embodiments, the compartment 10 may include one or more phonesecuring elements. For instance, the compartment 10 may comprise one ormore flexible tabs that are deformed or deflected when a phone is placedinto the compartment. The tabs may press against the phone to provideadditional securement of the phone in the compartment. As anotherexample, the compartment may have a dimension that provides for afriction fit with an inserted phone. Or, for example, the phone supportwall 11 may be made out of a material that prevents slippage of thephone or may contain a friction-enhancing coating.

The seat 401 may also comprise a visual indicator 17 that indicate to auser that the one or more compartments 10 are for holding a smartphoneto take a photograph and/or video of an occupant of the whirl. Anexample of such an indicator 17 is shown in FIG. 23. The visualindicator 17 may be located anywhere on the seat 401, including forexample on wall 404 in the vicinity of the phone-holding compartment 10.In the illustrated embodiments, visual indicator 17 is located on thephone support wall 11 of the compartment 10. The visual indicator 17 maydesirably be integral with, e.g. molded or stamped into, the materialthat makes up the phone-holding compartment 10 and/or wall 404, such asis shown in the illustrated embodiment. However, the application of avisual indicator 17 using a sticker, adhesive, or the like is alsocontemplated. The visual indicator 17 may also have any design, so longas the design provides a user with some indication of the intended useof the compartment 10.

In some embodiments, the phone-holder compartment 10 may be positionedat a height and angle such that an average smartphone camera, which as a65 degree field of view, is able to capture the face of children of acertain age group. As shown in FIG. 24, the compartment may beconfigured so that an average smartphone camera having a 65 degree fieldof view is positioned to capture the face of a 50th percentile in heighttwelve-year-old child user.

Other embodiments of spinner seats 401 comprising a phone-holdingcompartment 10 are shown at FIGS. 28 to 30.

The spinner 400 shown in FIG. 28, for example, has seat 401 in the shapeof a conventional bowl seat comprising a lower support surface 402, anupper frame 403, and an integral wall 404 that surrounds the entirecircumferential periphery of the seat. A phone is shown extending upwardfrom a phone-holding compartment 10 that is positioned at the top ofwall 404.

The spinner 400 shown in FIG. 29 comprises a new type of seat 501, inwhich a lower support surface 502 is sunken only slightly relative to aperipheral edge 503. The peripheral edge 503 includes a steep incline atthe front of the seat 501, thereby creating a front projection 504. Aphone-holding compartment 10, such as that described herein, is providedon the front projection 504.

The spinner 400 shown in FIG. 30 comprises a new type of saddle seat601, comprising a lower support surface 602, a back support 603, and afront projection 604. A phone-holding compartment 10, such as thatdescribed herein, is provided on the front projection 604.

As noted above, in some embodiments, the spinner 400 may comprise asupport structure 450 that is configured to provide the seat withmulti-axis movement, such as through the rotation of a portion of themounting assembly in addition to the spinning of the seat. Notably, thenew support structure 450 described herein may be used in conjunctionwith any of a variety of spinner seats, regardless of whether or not theseat includes a phone-holding compartment. However, the embodiment ofseat 401 shown in FIGS. 18-24 may be configured to operate with amulti-axis movement support structure 450, as seen for example in FIGS.22, 26, and 27.

In some embodiments, a playground spinner 400 may comprise a supportstructure 450 that is configured to provide a user with both a spinningmovement and a rotating movement. The spinner may comprise a seat 401and a support assembly 450 comprising a drive shaft 451, a swivelbearing 452, and a drive wheel 453. An example of such a supportassembly 450 is shown in FIG. 25.

The seat 401 may be secured to the drive shaft 451 through the use ofconventional fasteners. In some embodiments, the seat 401 may comprise aconventional mounting feature on the underside of the seat. Because ofthe multi-axis movement, however, it may be desirable to provide theseat 401 with an extended mounting feature 408 that comprises one ormore protrusions. As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, for instance, theextended mounting feature 408 may comprise a protrusion 409 that extendsup the rear wall of the seat, a protrusion 410 that extends up the frontwall of the seat, side protrusions 411 that each extend up one of theside walls of the seat, or a combination thereof. By using an extendedmounting feature 408 such as that described herein, one may provide theseat 401 with additional structural support to account for the addedstresses placed on the seat by the multi-axis movement (and theassociated shifting of weight of the occupant(s) of the seat).

The drive shaft 451 comprises a longitudinal axis that spans between afirst end of the drive shaft and a second end of the drive shaft. Afirst end of the drive shaft 451 is secured to the seat 401 as describedabove. The second end of the drive shaft 451 may comprise a tensioningmechanism, such as an idler wheel 454 which is configured to roll upon afixed surface 455. In other (non-illustrated) embodiments, the secondend of the drive shaft 451 may be a free end or may be attached toanother component, such as a counterweight.

The drive shaft 451 is connected to the rest of the support assembly 450in a manner that allows the drive shaft to spin 360 degrees about itslongitudinal axis. For instance, the drive shaft 451 may be attached toa support structure housing 456 by way of swivel bearing 452. Swivelbearing 452 allows the drive shaft 451 to spin about its longitudinalaxis while also allowing for a limited amount of angular movement of thedrive shaft within the housing 456.

As illustrated, for example, swivel bearing 452 may be positioned in atop surface, or cap, of the housing 456 through which the drive shaft451 extends. In some embodiments, the support structure 450 may beinstalled such that the top surface of the housing 456 is flush orsubstantially flush with the play surface. In that way, the housing 456is concealed below the play surface, e.g. below ground, and is notaccessible to users of the playground.

By providing a seat 401 that extends outward a sufficient distance fromthe drive shaft 451, one may also prevent a person from having a foot ora hand pinched between the underside of the seat 401 and the top of thehousing 456. The seat 401 of the illustrated embodiment, for instance,has a wall 404 that curves outward as it increases in height from alower portion to an upper portion, creating a seat having a roundedlower surface. Due to the angular rotation of the seat 401, therefore,the upper portion of the seat wall 404 will contact a person located inthe immediate vicinity of the spinner 400 and operate to move thatperson away from the seat before any part of that person could becomepinched between the lower portion of the seat wall (or the mountingelement 408 attached thereto) and the housing 456.

The support structure also comprises a drive wheel 453, which is fixedto the drive shaft 451 and which rolls along a race 457. The rolling ofthe drive wheel 453 about the race 457 provides for rotation of thedrive shaft about a vertical axis. The race 457, which may be fixedwithin the housing 456, has an angled surface 458 upon which the drivewheel 453 rolls. Contact between the drive wheel 453 and the angledsurface 458 places the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 451 at atilt, or angle, with respect to a vertical axis. As a result, thespinning of the drive shaft 451 (about its longitudinal axis) occursalong a first, tilted (i.e. non-vertical) axis, and the rotation of thedrive wheel 453 (and thus the drive shaft 451), about the race 457occurs along a second, vertical axis. This provides the seat 401 withthe multi-axis movement described herein.

The particular angle of the angled surface 458 of the race 457 definesthe angle of the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 451, and hence theangle about which the seat spins. The particular angle of surface 458may therefore be selected to provide a spinner 400 with a desiredmovement. It has generally been found that for a desirable spinner 400experience, the race surface 458 may have an angle of 15 degrees or less(relative to vertical), alternatively 12 degrees or less, alternatively10 degrees or less. For instance, the surface 458 of the race 457 may beangled between about 3 degrees and about 15 degrees from vertical,alternatively between about 3 degrees and about 12 degrees fromvertical, alternatively between about 3 degrees and about 10 degreesfrom vertical, alternatively between about 5 degrees and about 15degrees from vertical, alternatively between about 5 degrees and about12 degrees from vertical, alternatively between about 5 degrees andabout 10 degrees from vertical, alternatively between about 6 degreesand about 10 degrees from vertical, alternatively between about 7degrees and about 9 degrees from vertical, alternatively about 8 degreesfrom vertical. As the angle is increased, the rotation of the seat 401about the vertical axis becomes more extreme for the occupant(s) and thestresses placed on the seat during use become higher.

The support structure 450 may also comprise a tensioning mechanism thatkeeps the drive wheel 453 in contact with the angled surface 458 of therace 457 and ensures that the drive shaft 451 is maintained along thedefined tilt angle during use. Without any such tensioning mechanism,the drive shaft 451 would be capable of lateral motion, which results ina jerky and less-controllable spinning experience. In the illustratedembodiment, for example, the tensioning mechanism comprises an idlerwheel 454 and a fixed surface 455.

The idler wheel 454 may be affixed to the lower end of the drive shaft451 and is configured to spin in the opposite direction from the driveshaft 451. The idler wheel 454 contacts and rolls along affixed fixedsurface 455, thereby maintaining contact between the drive wheel 453 andthe race 457. Fixed surface 455 is desirably also angled relative tovertical. For example, fixed surface 455 may be angled at the same orsubstantially the same angle as surface 458 of race 457 or it may have agreater angle relative to vertical. Fixed surface 455 may be an integralpart of housing 456 or may be provided by a separate component such as atensioning pin.

The multi-axis movement that results from the support structure 450described herein delivers a spinner 400 that provides an entirely newplay experience. Namely, an occupant of the seat 401 is able to spinabout the tilted longitudinal axis of the drive shaft 451 while the seatsimultaneously rotates about a vertical axis. The result is a motionthat by a seat occupant can easily maintain simply be using his or hercore muscles. In contrast to conventional spinners, the occupant neednot push off the ground to cause the movement, nor is any interaction(e.g. a push) from a non-occupant individual needed. Further, anoccupant may easily cause the direction of the spinning and rotation tochange from a first direction to a second direction, providing a userwith a new degree of control over the spinning motion that is notachieved by conventional playground spinners.

In other embodiments, support structure 450 may be associated with astanding spinner unit 400 (instead of one having a seat) to provide astanding spinner unit with the multi-axis movement described herein. Forexample, in some (non-illustrated) embodiments seat 401 may be replacedwith a platform, or base, on which one or more children stand. Theplatform is also preferably comprises one or more handles that a usermay hold onto during the spinning and rotating movement of the spinner400. In some embodiments, the platform may be configured for a singleuser to stand in the center and hold onto one or more handles located ator near the periphery, e.g. circumference, of the platform. This willprovide a user with maximum control over the multi-axis movement, asdescribed above with respect to the seated embodiment. In otherembodiments, however, the platform may be configured for multiplechildren to work together to control the multi-axis movement of thespinner 400.

It can be seen that the described embodiments provide unique and novelplayground structures having a number of advantages over those in theart. While there is described herein certain specific elements embodyingthe invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications and rearrangements of the elements may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventiveconcept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms hereinshown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A swing comprising a. a swing seat configured to besuspended from an overhead support structure and to move in a swingingmotion; and b. a compartment sized and configured to hold a smartphoneat a location and angle to photograph at least the face of an occupantof the swing seat during the swinging motion; wherein the swing seat isa child safety seat comprising a bottom surface, a back support, and afront support defining a pair of leg holes, the front support comprisingan upper surface, and the upper surface comprising an access opening tothe compartment; and wherein the compartment comprises a proximal wall,a distal wall, and a pair of side walls, and wherein the distal wall isangled between about 10 degrees and about 45 degrees from vertical sothat a camera of a smartphone placed inside the compartment is angledupward toward the occupant's face.
 2. The swing of claim 1, wherein theupper surface further comprises a visual indicator that the compartmentis for holding a smartphone to take a photograph.
 3. The swing of claim1, wherein the distal wall is angled between about 10 degrees and about30 degrees from vertical.
 4. The swing of claim 1, wherein thecompartment comprises one or more drainage holes.
 5. The swing of claim4, wherein the compartment further comprises a bottom wall, the bottomwall being angled toward the one or more drainage holes.
 6. The swing ofclaim 1, further comprising one or more flexible elements that extendinto the compartment and which are configured to secure a smartphonewithin the compartment.
 7. The swing of claim 1, wherein the compartmentcomprises a non-slip coating.
 8. The swing of claim 1, wherein thecompartment is at least two inches deep.
 9. The swing of claim 8,wherein the compartment is between 2.5 inches and 4.5 inches deep. 10.The swing of claim 1, wherein the proximal wall is angled away from thedistal wall to prevent interference in the field of view of an averagesmartphone camera.
 11. The swing of claim 1, wherein the compartment issized and configured so that the phone can be inserted and securedeither vertically, for portrait-style photographs, or horizontally, forlandscape-style photographs.
 12. A swing comprising a. a swing seatconfigured to be suspended from an overhead support structure and tomove in a swinging motion; and b. a compartment sized and configured tohold a smartphone at a location and angle to photograph at least theface of an occupant of the swing seat during the swinging motion;wherein the swing further comprises a support element positioned infront of the swing seat, and wherein the support element comprises thecompartment; and wherein the support element is connected to the swingseat through a connector that extends (i) underneath the swing seat,such that a user can step over the connector when entering the swingseat; (ii) along one side of the swing seat, such that a user can enterthe swing seat through the opposite side; or (iii) over the top of theswing seat.
 13. A swing comprising a first seat; a second seat; aconnector that secures the first seat to the second seat, such that thefirst and second seats share a swinging motion; and a phone holder sizedand configured to hold a smartphone at a location and angle tophotograph at least the face of an occupant of the first seat; whereinthe first seat is a child safety seat comprising a bottom surface, aback support, and a front support defining a pair of leg holes, thefront support comprising an upper surface, and the upper surfacecomprising an access opening to the phone holder; and wherein the phoneholder comprises a proximal wall, a distal wall, and a pair of sidewalls, and wherein the distal wall is angled between about 10 degreesand about 45 degrees from vertical so that a camera of a smartphoneplaced inside the phone holder is angled upward toward the occupant'sface.
 14. The swing of claim 13, wherein the distal wall is angledbetween about 10 degrees and about 30 degrees from vertical.
 15. Theswing of claim 13, wherein the phone holder comprises one or moredrainage holes.
 16. The swing of claim 15, wherein the phone holderfurther comprises a bottom wall, the bottom wall being angled toward theone or more drainage holes.
 17. The swing of claim 13, furthercomprising one or more flexible elements that extend into the phoneholder and which are configured to secure a smartphone within the phoneholder.
 18. The swing of claim 13, wherein the phone holder comprises anon-slip coating.
 19. The swing of claim 13, wherein the proximal wallis angled away from the distal wall to prevent interference in the fieldof view of an average smartphone camera.
 20. The swing of claim 13,wherein the phone holder is sized and configured so that the phone canbe inserted and secured either vertically, for portrait-stylephotographs, or horizontally, for landscape-style photographs.